Murray Baffled By Panthers Questions

DAVE JOSEPH Commentary

MIAMI — Even now, 58 games into this catastrophe of a season, Bryan Murray doesn't get it. He spends his time wondering what happened, trying to pinpoint where it all broke down.

``I'm dumbfounded,'' said Murray the other morning, referring to the Panthers' abysmal record. ``I'm shocked.''

But between Tuesday morning and Wednesday evening, Murray had answered his own questions about this team's terrible season. His actions proved how he and his staff had overrated their young talent, and how poorly they had judged some of the veterans they had acquired.

* Case No. 1: Before the season, Murray and former coach Doug MacLean spoke of seven young players who would carry this team into the future: Ed Jovanovski, Rob Niedermayer, Chris Wells, Radek Dvorak, Rhett Warrener, Steve Washburn and David Nemirovsky. But when the Panthers met the Devils Wednesday night, Wells, Dvorak and Warrener didn't dress and Washburn and Nemirovsky were riding the bus in New Haven, Conn.

* Case No. 2: Murray hinted Tuesday morning that the players he has acquired may not be the right ones. ``Some players are concerned with something individual rather than winning,'' he said. ``Some players are preoccupied with ice time,'' rather than doing what's right for the team.

In Murray's words, there has been some ``bitching and moaning'' about the roles some refuse to play. And, yes, possibly some resentment over contracts handed out over the offseason.

Admit the mistakes

None of this should be news to Murray, because he is responsible for this mess. Not because he made mistakes, but because he fails to realize when to admit those mistakes.

Take Wednesday's decisions to send Washburn to New Haven instead of Wells and play Johan Garpenlov on the No. 1 line against the New Jersey Devils.

Murray signed Garpenlov over the off-season to a three-year deal worth nearly $3 million and traded for Wells. But despite the fact they score with the regularity of Larry Zeidel, Murray continues to work the two while Washburn, who has the most upside of the three, was demoted. It's no secret that demoting Wells, or waiving Garpenlov, would have been an admission by Murray that he made a mistake in both cases.

The same could be said at various times for Murray's decision to dress veterans Kirk Muller and Esa Tikkanen. Both have failed to live up to their hype and both have had ample opportunity. But both were also given generous deals over the offseason by Murray.

So is there resentment over free agents or newly acquired players who don't perform but continue getting ice time? ``Probably a little,'' Murray said. And why shouldn't there be.

No patience with kids

No matter where he turns, no matter what he's done, Murray can't seem to get a break.

The signing of Dave Gagner seemed a good idea. Not only would he be the Panthers' No. 1 center, but he'd take pressure off Niedermayer. But except for his quick start (13 goals in his first 29 games), Gagner has scored two goals in his last 24 games.

Even Murray's usual forte of developing young players, and having the patience to stick with them, seems to have abandoned him. He couldn't get anything out of Nemirovsky, who President Bill Torrey raved about a year ago, and demoted him. Washburn was sent packing. And, against the Devils, Murray didn't dress Dvorak. And it's hard to see any improvement in Jovanovski, Niedermayer and Viktor Kozlov this season.

One minute, Murray is preaching sticking with youngsters. The next he's benching or demoting them.

If this is the future, if Wednesday's 3-2 loss was any indication of what is to come, than it may be time Murray admits his mistakes and moves this franchise in another direction.